Excellent piece - should be writ large on the walls of every newsroom in NZ. A good MP can stay up half the night reading the submissions to SC and many of them do repeat the same points. Not sure if I'm correct, but I think NZ is one of the few democratic countries (Westminster system) which allows submitters to appear in person? SC also are tasked with the appearances of HO departments, ministries, and so on. But they are great places - a pity the public don't see them at work more often as the Select Committee in action is nothing like the debating chamber. Good working relationships across parties are forged in the select committee room - especially as MPs from small parties often have to sub for their fellow MPs on another committe.
One of the worst things that could happen IMO is broadcasting them - Geoffrey Palmer has suggested this recently - because the incentive to rmaintain those good, workmanlike relationships would be destroyed by the incentive to create viral content. Which is why US Senate and House committee hearings are just performative charades.
I feel like that, on average, my submissions are probably more useful than the average submission to a select committee. I usually ask to be heard, but I very much do not expect to heard, unless, perhaps, the Committee asked me to submit on the Bill.
Yes I have seen you submit before and instead of making some polemical point you are often trying to help improve the legislation. Which is probably the best possible use of anyone's time when it comes to engaging with the system.
There was a time when you could ask your MP to ensure you got at least one "difficult" question from a .member of a select committee to which you knew the answer. Probs still works 😊
Excellent piece - should be writ large on the walls of every newsroom in NZ. A good MP can stay up half the night reading the submissions to SC and many of them do repeat the same points. Not sure if I'm correct, but I think NZ is one of the few democratic countries (Westminster system) which allows submitters to appear in person? SC also are tasked with the appearances of HO departments, ministries, and so on. But they are great places - a pity the public don't see them at work more often as the Select Committee in action is nothing like the debating chamber. Good working relationships across parties are forged in the select committee room - especially as MPs from small parties often have to sub for their fellow MPs on another committe.
One of the worst things that could happen IMO is broadcasting them - Geoffrey Palmer has suggested this recently - because the incentive to rmaintain those good, workmanlike relationships would be destroyed by the incentive to create viral content. Which is why US Senate and House committee hearings are just performative charades.
As is question time in the House
I feel like that, on average, my submissions are probably more useful than the average submission to a select committee. I usually ask to be heard, but I very much do not expect to heard, unless, perhaps, the Committee asked me to submit on the Bill.
Yes I have seen you submit before and instead of making some polemical point you are often trying to help improve the legislation. Which is probably the best possible use of anyone's time when it comes to engaging with the system.
Interesting theory. It does not work in real life and I think it is just a box-ticking exercise.
I was invited to speak to my submission on the Fast Track Bill.
After several false starts and cancellations a date and time was given.
My experience was speaking to one man who was busy on his laptop, a refrigerator, and a jar of lollies.
There was no sign of a committee and no questions from the man, the refrigerator, or the jar of lollies.
Democracy? Not in my opinion.
There was a time when you could ask your MP to ensure you got at least one "difficult" question from a .member of a select committee to which you knew the answer. Probs still works 😊